The day the Chief results were announced was one of the greatest accomplishments in our lives. Our worlds were turned upside down. The five of us found ourselves very confused and dazed. The masters of the seas encouraged us to display emotions that were lingering on the inside to show the world who we really were. What transpired over the next six weeks was only for few to know and keep sacred for the rest of their lives.

As we look back at the past six weeks, it seems like it went by so fast. While it was happening, it seemed like an eternity. There were many lessons thrown at us over the past six weeks, some of them we understood as they were happening, some we still have no idea of their meaning. We learned to become a team with each other, with individuals we had never worked with before, let alone really knew at all. Teamwork, trust, and priorities, were the three big lessons that we took away from all this. Together as a team, things flowed so much easier, it was when we performed as individuals that everything started to fall apart. Trust was key in being successful. Without trust in one another, we could never reach our full potential. Priorities helped us tackle the many things we needed to accomplish. We had to weed through the less important things in order to accomplish what was really necessary.

The experiences we went through were extremely mentally and physically challenging. We have joined a brotherhood of family we will always cherish for the rest of our lives. We fully appreciate all the MOBILE BAY CPO Mess has done for us (and to us) over the past six weeks. We can’t wait to see what the rest of our live as A United States Navy Chief has in store for us!

Whenever asked what was going on behind closed doors or what was in the vessels. The simple answer was WISDOM. Congratulations to OSC(SW/AW) Azuela, YNC(SW/SCW/AW) Barbee, GMC(SW) Beavers, CTRC(SW/AW) Styffe, FCC(SW) Brown and all the NEW Chiefs. The challenge for you and all Chiefs is to “honor” to those that have gone before and “set the standard” for those that follow.

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